Tiltable and vertically adjustable bedside table



W. H. LEWIS July 29, 1952 TILTABLE AND VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE BEDSIDE TABLE Filed May 18, 1949 upright; and 7 patented July 29.1952

TILTABLE AND BEDSIDE TABLE VERTICALLY ADJUS ABLE William H. Lewis, Rockford, 1 Application May 18, 1949, Serial No.-93,95 9 I 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an adjustable table and more particularly to anadiustable bedside table.

An object of the invention is the provision of a table of the above character having novel means for mounting the table top, that permits the table top to be swung from a position in which it overlies the bed, to be used by an occupant thereof, to a position in which it is adjacent the head of the bed and is disposed in a plane common or substantially parallel with the head so that a patient or occupant of the bed is accessible from either side of the bed.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a table of the above character having novel means for securing the table top to the bed.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the present invention and a bed with the table top in an inclined position and overlyingthe bed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing details of construction of the tubular upright, the table top and the means for securing the table top to the l Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the lines '33 of Fig. 2. 7

Referring new to the drawings the invention is shown embodied in an adjustable bedside table attached to a bed so that the tabletop may be 7 swung between positions'in which it is accessible. to a person occupying the bed and a position in which it is disposed at one side oi the bed in an out-of-the-way position. Thebed may be of any conventional construction such as used in the home or in ahospital. For purposes of simplifying the drawings, only the head It and a rail it of the bedare shown. The rail l3 interconnects the head 12 and a foot (not shown) in a conventional manner. In general the bedside table comprises a table top I A, an arm l6 supporting the table top M, an upright 11 supporting the arm It, a horizontal arm 18 extending from the upright and mounting means l9 arranged to be secured to the rail i3 of the bed to provide an axis about which the arm [8, upright H, and table top M are free to swing so that the table topmay be moved from a position in which it overlies the bed tea position in which it is folded away at one side of the bed as seen in Figure 1 so that-the upright i7 is adjacent the head l2 of the bed and thetable top is in a vertical plane;v common with- 7 2" the head- 12. s As best seen in Figs. 1"and -2-the tabletop Hifhas a generally rectangular configuration havingan upstanding rim 2| formed along its edges. The top I4 may be formed of any suitable material such as Wood, synthetic 're'sinf'or metal.- The-arm I6 herein is in the'form of a cross extending transverselyrirom the top. of the upright H. The table, top I4 is" secured; t oythe arm I6 as by screws'or the like so that the- -armpl 5 provides ayrigid support for the table top [4.

, Provision is madefor adjusting the inclination of the table top [-1 so that the position of vthe top may bevaried to suit the individual usingthe table. For this purpose the arm 1E isfmounted 011- the upright I? for rotation abouta horizontal and is providedwith a latch for maintaining the table top I l in any of a number vof preselectedpositions about thehorizontal axis, :The

construction .-f0r accomplishing this includes a bossp-ZZjFig. 2). iori'ned-atone endfo fv the arm iii and having asmooth bearing surfaceit abutting; against an adjacent surface 2 4 formed 1011' a y can ifisupported by the upright-J1. V The cap 26 o me i h 2 a he n p n '21 shapeda o received asmooth shank portion 29 of a -headed screw 28.; The latter, is also formed with a threadedportion 3 I; receivable in a threaded passageway formed in the boss 22. The length-0f the shanhportion'is of the screwis substantially the same as the width of thecap 26 sothat' when the screw 28 is-tightened the cap, 25.is snugly disposedbetweenthe head of the screw 28 andthe boss 22. Thus the shank portion 2 9 defines a I pivot or bearing about which the tabletop L4 is threaded portion 3! oi; the latter inpositicn. I I

rotatable. .A set screw 32 eng-ageable with the screw- 2 8 secures; the

- The locking means includesa plunger; :33 passing through a horizontal passage formed; ingthe cap 25 in spaced relation to the passagewayfl.

At its inner end the plunger 33'isshaped1tgbe received mom of the-apertures dt 'iormed inthe bearing face 23 of the bossZZand spacedgabout the openin for the threaded1portion 3L; of the screw 28. "A spring 34 acting sbetween tliecap. 26

I and a collar 31 on the'plunger 33'urgeshthe plunger; in a direction to have its forward end received in one'of th'e apertures 36.

The upright l1 .isiormedl by two't'ubularmerribers 38 and 39, the tubular member38 telescoping into the tubulanmember 39 so that thehe'ight of the table top may be adjusted :to'prseic'ted elevations. The cap 26'isi'carried on the tubular portion 3Bmand has a portion 4:! shaped -to' be received in the "hollow passageway of the tubular i'nember 38, A screw 42 threaded through the side walls of the tubular member 38 and into the body portion 4| of the cap secures the cap to the tubular portion 38. The tubular portion 38 is formed with a row ofspaced apertures 43 along one side and the tubular member 39 is formed with an aperture 44 disposed to be in alinement with a selected one of the apertures 43 in the tubular member 33. A' pin 46 passing through the aperture 44 and receivable in one of the apertures. 43 in the tubular member 38 maintains the tubular members 38 and 39 in a desired adjusted relation to maintain the table top I 4 at a preselected elevation. At its lower'end the tubular member 39 is provided with a caster holder 41 secured in position by a screw 48. A caster 49 has its stem secured in the caster holder 41 in a conventional manner.

The arm I8 may be a tubular member, as shown in Fig. 3. At one end it is secured to a bo'ss formed'on a sleeve 52 as by a screw 53.

The sleeve 52 is shaped to snugly receive the .tubular member 39 of the upright l1 and is slidablesrelati ve to the tubular member 39 so that the-heightof the arm l8 may be adjusted to correspond to-the height of the bed rail I3. A thumb screw. threaded through the sleeve 52 and abutting against the tubular member 39 secures the sleeve 52 and the arm l8 in a desired adjusted position along the tubular member 39. The form of the mounting means I 9 may vary considerably depending on the form of the bed rail l3 to which the arm [8 is attached. In general-it includes a member secured to the bed rail --l 3}by suitable means such as clamps, screws or the like and providin a pivotal support for the arm l8. In this instance the mounting means includes a bracket 56 secured to the side of the bed r'ail as by screws 51. The bracket 56 is mounted on the rail I3 at a-position spaced from the head -l-2equal to the length of the arm l8. Thus when the arm I8 is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 1 thetable top [4 overlies the bed and whe the arm I8 is in the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 the upright H is adjacent the head 12 and the table top may be disposed in a vertical plane. The top surface of the bracket is relatively smooth to define a bearing surface for supporting a member 58. The latter is secured td'the opposite end of the tubular member 18 as by having a portion 59 of the member 58 received in the opposite end of the tubular member 18' andsecured therein as by a screw 6!. The

member'58 is formed with a vertically arranged bearing opening 62 shaped to receive the smooth shank portion 63 of a vertically arranged screw 65, the latter being threaded into a threaded passageway formed in the bracket 55. 1 'This cons'truction in effect defines a vertical pivotal axis about which the arm l8, andin turn the table I4 are free to move.

Assuming that the bracket 53 has been secured toth rail. l3 and the sleeve 52 adjusted relative to theupright ('1: so that the upright is securely supported and the caster 49 rests on the floor, the mannerinwhich. the table may be used is readily apparent byviewing. Figure 1. In the solid line position of the parts it will be noted that the arm, [8 is adjacent therail I3, the upright H extends upwardlyv along; the side of the bed and the. table top l4, overliesthebed. The elevation gofthe table qnmaybe adjusted by removing the pin 46 from thetubularmernbers38 and. 39 and merging. the tubular .member 38 p to a. position. in

- the; table. g L4,; is. at a. desired: height.

When the table top is at the desired elevation the pin 46 is inserted in the aperture 44 and in an aperture 43 in the tubular member 38 in registry with the aperture 44. It is to be understood that due to the spacin of the apertures 43, the tubular member 38 may have to be moved up or down slightly to aline one of the apertures 43 with the e t In Figure 1 the tabletop is shown in an inclined position. Should it'be desired to move the table top hi to a horizontal position, as shown by end of the plunger is withdrawn from one aperture 35 and clears the surface 23. The table top M is then free to rotate about the horizontal axis defined by the screw 28. When the table top is in a desired adjusted position the plunger 33 is released. The action of the spring 34 urges the end of the plunger into engagement with the surface 23. The angular position of the top 14 is then adjusted until the end of the plunger is received in one of the apertures 36. As soon as the plunger 33 is received in one of the apertures the table top is locked in position and cannot be rotated further until the plunger is withdraw from the aperture as described above.

When theoccupant of the bed is through with the .table, an attendant may fold it away. By pushing on the table top M the latter is caused to. swing about the axis defined by the screw 65 to any desired position at oneside of the bed. Thus, the table top 1 4 may be moved from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. Thus the arm l8 moves through an arc of substantially degrees. The table top [4 may also be'disposed in a vertical plane in side by side relation with the wall of the room and in a plane. common to or parallel with the head of the bed.

The above table construction is simple. It may be readily attached to any conventional bed. The table top H is readily adjustable to different elevations and inclinations. Also the table top may be readily moved from a position in which it is readily usable by an occupant of the bed to a position in which it is folded away at one side of the bed in an inconspicuous location. When in the latter position, as shown by'dotted lines in Figure l, the table top It is out-of-the-way so that the occupant of the bed is readily accessible from either side of the bed. The above construction is advantageous'where a plurality of beds are in side by side relation asin a ward. When the table tops are folded away they occupy a veryminimum of space. The latter is important in that it gives an attendant more working space than conventional constructions provide.

1 claim:

Ina bed table for a bed having a longitudinal bed rail, a bracket mounted on said bed rail in spaced relation from the head end of the bed a vertical standard having floor-engagingmeans at itslower end and provided at its upper end with means for supporting a table top in angularly adjustable relationship with respect to the vertical standard,- said table topsupporting means being vertically adjustablewith respect to the standard,

a a horizontal arm provided at one end with a .zotherendofethehorizontal arm and coacting with said pivot member on the bracket to form a pivotal connection for adjustment of the vertical standard toward and away from the bed, said horizontal arm being of a length corresponding to the distance of said bracket from the head end 5 of the bed; whereby said horizontal arm can be moved about its pivotal axis so that the vertical standard extends adjacent the head end of the bed.

' WILLIAM H. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Strauss Jan. 25, 1949 

